June 01, 2011

Heat Win Game 1 as Dirk Injures Finger: The Miami Heat opened the NBA Finals with a 92-84 home victory over the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron James scored 24 points for his first win in five finals-game appearances and Dwyane Wade scored 22 with 10 rebounds and six assists. Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 for the Mavericks but injured a finger on his non-shooting hand. The Heat outrebounded the Mavs by 10 and their bench outscored them by 10.

That game went the way the Mavericks needed, but they didn't make the shots they had to make. They won't win a game where they have to out-run and out-gun the Heat. They have to make them grind in the halfcourt game and their bench has to outplay the Heat scrubs by a significant margin.

One other thing: as a KU fan, I'm not surprised that the much-maligned Chalmers was a factor last night. I get that he's not a great NBA player, but he never shied away from a big shot at Kansas (in fact I think he wanted to take the shot), and he doesn't now. For all his faults, the guy has ice-water in his veins, and relishes the moment. I agree with the school of thought that sees that as an unquantifiable yet real asset in Finals. While he may not score another point in the Finals, I could also see him hit a big three in game 6-7 if it gets there.

I was intrigued last night at the wildly different, yet effective, styles of play these two teams bring. Both have great defenses but the Heat's is a swarming, manic beast while the Mav's take very few chances but are reliably always in front of their man. Offensively... Well, offensively I have a tough time figuring out how the Mav's are so effective but I know it's a hell of a lot different than the Heat are doing.

I think the whole reason the Mavs are here in the first place is that during the playoffs against LA and OKC, there shooting was incredible. Last night their shooting was not especially from Terry and Dirk. While Nowitzki had a decent game he was not the incredibly accurate guy he was in the last two series. Add to that the fact the Barrea could not make a lay up or a jumper and the rest of the bench was ineffective it was kind of remarkable that the Mavs had the game so close. It was a big set back but not the death blow.

Thursday is a must win game in my mind, because the Mavs cannot let the Heat get any more relaxed or confident then they appear right now.
When the Heat shoot more 3's, hit more big shots, out rebound on the offensive boards, and get more production from the bench than the Mavs, they should have won by 30 pts. The fact that they did not is a little sign of hope for the Mavs. No much but a little.